Emotion drives the Vista Murrieta senior forward, whether it’s a fist pump or five following a big 3-pointer, a momentum-turning defensive stop, or a closed-door challenge. It’s just who she is

“Sometimes, you don’t want to do that,” Ulel said. “But I love it. I need to show my teammates that I’m here, and they’re here. We just take that as fire. We always take that as fire. I’m always in their face — I’m like, ‘Come on, let’s get it together. Get it together.’

“Everyone has a piece of Naz.”

By Saturday afternoon, Ulel and her Vista Murrieta teammates hope to have a piece of a regional championship. The fourth-seeded Broncos look for their first state-final appearance in school history in girls basketball when they face No. 6 Brea Olinda in the CIF-Southern California regional championship game at 1 p.m. at the Long Beach Pyramid.

This season marked the third time in four years that Vista Murrieta (30-4) and its three Division 1-signed players reached the regional semifinals, but it’s the first time they’re within a win of the state championship game. It’s realization of a long-sought potential for this senior class, which has carried high expectations into each of it four seasons.

The fact the Broncos reached a high-water point has a lot to do with Ulel, a Cal State Fullerton signee.

“She’s definitely the emotional leader on this team,” first-year Vista Murrieta coach Kurt Ruth said. “She plays with passion. I think the biggest challenge is getting her to have that passion be positive. We need that emotion. You need someone on your team who’s that emotional leader that will show the rest of the team.”

And she’s really made a difference this year.

Having been a perimeter player in the past — she first turned heads with a school-record, 46-point, single-game performance last year — Ulel transitioned to more of an inside player this season. In fact, Ruth said, she can, will and has had to play every position on the floor.

“She does it all well,” Ruth said. “She’s a unique athlete along with being a unique person, as well. She’s a special personality type.”

“I love the role of playing defense and getting (the opponent’s) best player,” she said, “and having the job of shutting them down. I take that so personal.”

When the Broncos needed a lift, she’s offered that kick-in-the-butt mentality that hasn’t always been in there in past. She questioned her teammates at halftime of their Open Division consolation semifinal against Fullerton Troy, and though it didn’t produce a win, the Broncos rallied all the way back from a 21-point deficit against a good Fullerton Troy team. Ulel finished with 25 points – including four, clutch third-quarter 3-pointers.

Against Gardena Serra in the regional quarterfinal — and against the team that ended the Broncos’ season at home last year in the regional semis — Ulel scored 22 points and paced the way to the breakthrough victory.

Brea won’t be easy. The Wildcats are ranked fifth in the state and have impressive win after impressive win on their resume. They could be the toughest foe Vista has seen.

Sounds like Ulel’s type of game.

“Defense is feet, head and heart,” Ruth said. “You talk about heart being her thing, and that’s true. She has the feet, she has the athleticism, and the thing that’s underrated that people don’t realize about her is that she’s probably the smartest player I’ve eer coached in my entire coaching career — boys, girls, whatever. She’s super intelligent.”

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